Common questions

How does the timing belt and serpentine belt work?

How does the timing belt and serpentine belt work?

In short, the timing belt is responsible for keeping the camshaft and crankshaft movements synchronized. The serpentine belt takes mechanical power from the engine and transmits it to several peripheral devices of the vehicle, such as the water pump, power steering pump, alternator, air pump, oil pump, and air conditioning compressor.

When did they start putting oil in timing belts?

Since the adoption of timing belts by auto manufacturers began in the early 1970s, it has been pretty well beaten into our heads that oil and timing belts do not play well together. Oil contamination of the belt drive has been a death sentence, due to the rubber and fiber construction of the traditional timing belt.

Where is the serpentine belt on a car?

It is located on the exterior of the engine block. If you’re looking at your engine block, the serpentine belt is easy to notice. It is lengthy, black, thin, rubbery, and ribbed on the outside. The most important accessories of your car engine depend on the serpentine belt for their power needs.

Where are the teeth of the timing belt located?

In certain types of internal combustion engines, the timing belt may also help run the oil pump and water pump of the engine. But in every engine, the timing belt’s main job is to keep the camshaft and crankshaft connected with its teeth. The inside surface of the timing belt is where the teeth are located.

In short, the timing belt is responsible for keeping the camshaft and crankshaft movements synchronized. The serpentine belt takes mechanical power from the engine and transmits it to several peripheral devices of the vehicle, such as the water pump, power steering pump, alternator, air pump, oil pump, and air conditioning compressor.

How often should a serpentine belt be replaced?

Generally speaking, a serpentine belt should last you between 50,000 miles and 100,000 miles before it needs to be replaced. Because the serpentine belt is exposed to a lot of heat and is continually used in your engine it’s going to wear down after a time which can’t really be avoided.

How much does it cost to replace a timing belt?

Timing Belt Replacement Cost. You should know right off the bat that this is not a cheap fix. In fact, replacing your timing belt is quite an expensive repair. Most auto mechanics will charge anywhere from $500 – $2,000 to replace a timing belt due to the labor costs involved with the job.

What’s the life span of a timing belt?

That timing chain typically will last you at least 200,000 miles to 250,000 miles and possibly much longer. In fact, there have been cases where timing belts have lasted as long as 200,000 miles, so a timing chain could potentially have a remarkable life span.

How much to pay for timing belt?

A typical timing belt will only cost between $25 and $50, but the repair takes at least a few hours. The labor cost to replace a timing belt can range from $200 – $900.

How often do timing belts need to be replaced?

On average timing belts need to be replaced every 75,000 miles or 5 years, but refer to your owners manual for exact specifications. The majority of the cost is labor, because many parts need to be removed from the engine to gain access to the belt. A typical timing belt will only cost between $25 and $50, but the repair takes at least a few hours.

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Ruth Doyle